Trying To Thrive Without Chemicals

In the New York Botanical Garden, a search to identify and promote rose varieties that will thrive without chemical interference has begun.

The curator of the New York Botanical Garden, Peter E. Kukielski is in the forefront of a movement that tries to identify rose varieties that can survive and thrive without chemicals and pesticides. Since his arrival at the garden in 2006 he has started a revolution of sorts, weeding out a lot of the rose varieties already present, and introducing more than 600 new ones. Since his campaign for a sturdier and more natural rose began, the use of fungicide has dropped by 86 procent.

The gardens roses are not only healthier as a result, but visitors can now enjoy a longer season with the flowers being in bloom from May to November instead of the previous June to September.